Topics to review:

• Right of way Rules
• USHPA P2 Operating Limitations
• FAA Part 103
• FAA Airspace Regulations
• Understand the paraglider rating system and why it’s important to fly a glider appropriate to your skill level
• Understand the basics “Speed to fly”

Important things to remember:

Understand the difference between a spin and a spiral. In a spiral the entire glider is still flying it is just flying straight down towards the ground. A spin is what happens when you pull too much break and stall one side of the glider. The proper response to a spin is to stop breaking the moment you feel one side of the glider “slip”. This slip is felt as a sudden decrease in brake pressure on the stalled side and your glider will turn abruptly towards the direction you were breaking.

If you’re flying cross wind or down wind resist the temptation to try and slow your ground speed down by pulling brakes since this can stall the glider. If you’re flying close to the ground and there’s no way to turn yourself back into the wind before landing keep your hands up until right before you land and then do a full flair as usual.

If you’re launching from halfway up a mountain and you feel wind in your face on launch but you have not checked the wind at the top of the mountain there’s a chance that the wind you’re feeling is rotor being caused by wind blowing the opposite direction over the top of the mountain. If this is the case as soon as you launch you may find yourself descending fast in strong turbulence.

If you’re flying into a strong headwind and notice that your ground speed is low this does not mean your glider is going to stall the only way to stall or spin your gliders by pulling too much break.

It is not a good idea to engage your speed system close to the ground since your glider is more likely to take a deflation with your speed system engaged. One possible exception to this would be if you were in danger of being blown back.

If you find yourself in a spiral you should throw your reserve immediately if you feel any indication that you might black out or if you are close to the ground.

If your wing tip becomes stuck in the lines use the stabilo and break to clear it.

A wide chest strap setting on your harness allows for increased weight shift but will cause you to feel more bumps while in the air and if you take a deflation you will have to weight shift more away from the collapsed side. A narrow chest strap setting will dampen out the feeling of bumps while flying, reduce your ability to weight shift and increase the likelihood of getting riser twists if you take an asymmetric deflation.

I you enter a parachutal stall you can exit by engaging the speed system or pressing forward (tweaking) the A risers.

As pilots, we have a tendency to steer our gliders towards obstacles if we look at them. When coming in to land, look where you want to land the glider not at the tree or fence you want to avoid.

If you take an asymmetric deflation lean away from the deflation to keep the glider flying straight and release the speed bar if you have it engaged. Avoid over controlling the glider which can make the situation worse. Stay calm and after you have established that you are flying in a safe direction if the glider has not opened on its own you can gently pump the break on the deflated side to help the glider reinflate.